The following was the response a BC survive wrote in response to the question what advice do you have for others going through this;
1. Upon diagnosis, you will be sent to a surgeon right away. I suggest that before you make any decisions, also get your oncology consult too.
2. Get on as many prayer chains as possible.
3. Let people help you...it is therapeutic for them too.
4. Even if you are an introvert, shy or very private, force yourself to live some of your journey "outloud." If you are willing to be open through the process and engage others, you will be able to minister to them while you are being ministered too. It is a magical scenario.
5. Give hugs often. If you see a bald stranger, don't be afraid to approach her and offer encouragement and hugs. It truly is a sisterhood.
6. Be deliberate and intentional in finding or creating joy in the thick of it....wear a hat with dreadlocks sewn in the rim to chemo...let others in the waiting room try it on!
7. Don't try to be brave and strong all the time. Some times you need to cry and the people around you want you to feel free to BE REAL. Then, let yourself be hugged and suck all the positive energy you can from those hugs.
8. When you feel good after emerging from one of your chemo fogs....celebrate it...take a basket of treats to work or a couple dozen supermarket roses and pass them out, charging a hug for each item. I called these days, "Feel Good Friday's" and used it as an opportunity to thank everyone for their support.
9. Don't be afraid to go bald...I knew that by day 14-18 my hair would start to go, so.........I died it pink a couple weeks before chemo. When it started to fall out, I went to the CAO of my hospital and grabbed my hair in my fists and told her the project I was working on was making me pull my hair out....then I literally pulled out two fistfuls in front of her. The look on her face was priceless! I did that gag a few more times, then had it shave off, but stopped short of a total shave for a mowhawk photo! It is still my facebook photo!
10. Let people see your bald head...they are fascinated by it. When your hair grows back in, let them rub it. People will want to feel your hair because it is even softer than a baby's...I actually miss that!
11. Do the Race for the Cure, it will blow you away when you see how many people care about breast cancer and that means...they are there for YOU!
12. Embrace the pink...you will be swamped with it...people will give you everything with pink ribbons...from rubber duckies to socks. Just go with it. It doesn't define you, it does enrich you.
13. Google the origional Pink Glove Dance by St. Vincent Hospital in Portland, OR if you need a smile. The Free Hug Campaign videos are good too.
14. Work with your care team if you are having aches and pains during chemo that don't let you sleep or if the side effects of Tamoxifen or Arimidex are making you miserable. They have tricks up their sleeves that you don't know about, they just need to hear from you that you need them. Don't decide to stop something until you exhaust all options with your team. Communicate, communicate, communicate with your team. You will not be a whiner.
15. Nurture your spirituality during this time and you will come away with a great confidence in the God who loves you and promises to be with you through all your hardships.
16. If you will be having bilat. mastectomies, have some professional photos taken of your cleavage to give to your man as a gift.
It doesn't all apply to me. but it is sage advice I thought should be passed on....
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